Five cures for (digital) motion sickness

Reports have reached us that an ailment known as 'digital motion sickness' is
sweeping the nation, with smartphone users and 3D TV viewers reporting
unexpected bouts of nausea following long periods staring their gadgets.

The affliction is believed to be a modern-day version of the motion sickness which affects some people when they travel by boat, car and plane.

Unlike normal motion sickness – which is triggered when our inner ear senses movement which we cannot see – so-called "simulation sickness" occurs when the brain is tricked into believing we are moving while we actually remain still.

Digital motion sickness is set to become "the occupational disease of the 21st century" as technology continues to advance, according to news website Quartz.

In order to help our readers prepare themselves for the onset of this grave affliction, The Telegraph has come up with five possible cures for digital motion sickness.

Warning: these remedies have not been independently verified by a medical professional.

A fail-safe cure for motion sickness at sea is to stare at the horizon. The idea is that your eyes see the motion that your body is feeling, which helps quell the dizziness. In the case of digital motion sickness, the aim would be to let your brain realise that you are not actually moving, so staring at a wall for a few minutes would probably do the trick.

2. Chew gum

It is thought that the repetitive motion of chewing helps to relieve symptoms of motion sickness. Keep your jaw active and you may be able to keep playing that 3D game for longer. Just don't forget to wrap it up before you throw it away – no one likes a sticky controller.

3. Take deep breaths

Hyperventilation can lead to lightness of head and induce many of the symptoms of sea sickness. Take deep, controlled breaths and stay calm to prevent hyperventilating – no matter how exciting that film of game is getting.

4. Wear a wrist band

Anti-Seasickness wrist bands work by applying pressure or magnets to a pressure point located on the underside of the arm, about an inch and a half above your wrist. While this may keep your nausea at bay, we can't guarantee it won't also impair your dexterity when playing games

5. Sit on a sheet of brown paper

Yeah, we're pretty sure this is an old wives' tale too, but apparently it's all in the power of suggestion. 99 per cent of motion sickness is mentaI, so if you believe it works it most probably will.